4.3 Automatic debiting procedure 

A deposit account may also be debited for one or more European patent applications on the basis of an automatic debit order, signed or authenticated by or on behalf of the account holder (automatic debiting procedure), in accordance with the Arrangements for the automatic debiting procedure (abbreviated to "AAD"). The AAD plus explanatory notes are published as Annexes A.1 and A.2 to the ADA. The AAD can also be found on the EPO website (epo.org).

An automatic debit order may be filed on behalf of the applicant, the patent proprietor or the appointed representative and must be filed in an electronically processable format (XML) via EPO Online Filing or Online Filing 2.0 using EPO Forms 1001E, 1200E or 1038E, or via Central Fee Payment. An automatic debit order can be revoked only via Central Fee Payment and only for the proceedings as a whole.

There are three different types of automatic debit order for paying fees during the European grant procedure (see the notice from the EPO dated 12 February 2025, OJ EPO 2025, A18):

(i)automatic debit order for all fees

(ii)automatic debit order for all fees except renewal fees and

(iii)automatic debit order for renewal fees only.

An automatic debit order extends to all types of fees covered by the automatic debiting procedure and payable in respect of the proceedings specified in it. As the proceedings progress, each fee covered by the respective automatic debit order type is automatically debited and treated as having been paid in due time, provided that the deposit account contains sufficient funds. Fees not covered by the automatic debiting procedure are excluded from this payment method and must be paid by a different valid means.The automatic debit order may not be restricted to specific types of fees.

In the case of multiple payments from the same deposit account, the EPO processes automatic debit orders in ascending order of application number ("PCT" before "EP" before "UP") and fee code (unless otherwise indicated) at the end of the day on the decisive payment date. It is thus important for the deposit account to contain sufficient funds at the decisive payment date to cover all automatic debit orders due.